Latest News About Business Incubators and Accelerators From Across New York State

February 2024

New York State Incubator Report

BIANYS News and Updates

Join BIANYS Executive Director Marc Alessi for a discussion about SBIR opportunities available through the National Cancer Institute. The discussion will feature Dr. Gregory Evans, a Team Leader and Program Director within the National Cancer Institute SBIR Development Center, an office created in 2007 to centralize management of all NCI SBIR/STTR funding to increase marketing efforts in the small business and biotechnology investment communities, and to raise the bar for commercialization of cancer-related products and services by small businesses.

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Ecosystem News and Reads

2023 Roundup: A year of milestones for

Launch NY and its portfolio companies

National Science Foundation Establishes inaugural Regional Innovation Engine at Binghamton University

Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine (New York), led by Binghamton University, aims to establish a tech-based, industry-driven hub for new battery componentry, safety testing and certification, pilot manufacturing, applications integration, workforce development and energy storage, including through material sourcing and recovery.

The Southern Tier of New York is home to a robust legacy of American manufacturing and is now transforming itself into the nation's advanced battery research hub.

New York City Economic Development Corporation Launches Greenlight Innovation Fund RFP to provide capital funding for the development of facilities that support the Green Economy, Life Sciences, and Advanced Technology

NYCEDC has an initial allocation of up to $50 million of City Capital dollars for the Fund and intends to make multiple awards of at least $3 million per project. These awards are intended to grow and diversify the Innovation Industries that are critical to the success of New York’s economy.

This Request for Proposals (“RFP”) seeks to identify promising facilities development or improvement proposals (“Programs”) that are eligible to receive City Capital funding. The Fund is limited to Programs on one site initiated by nonprofit entities on privately-owned property. The Fund will provide City Capital for specific projects (“Projects”) that are part of the overall Program—a Project must consist of one of the following: the acquisition of real property, construction of facilities, or the purchase of equipment. NYCEDC generally seeks to fund no more than 50% of the total Program cost.

Empire State Development Announces Application Window Open for Round Eight of GENIUS NY Accelerator

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that GENIUS NY – the world’s largest business accelerator focused on uncrewed aerial systems – is now accepting applications for the eighth round of the year-long program. The in-residence accelerator, operated by CenterState CEO in downtown Syracuse, will invest more than $3 million in five finalist companies, including a $1 million grand prize. The program also offers business resources, programming, mentorship and networking opportunities to assist innovative startups with the tools they need to take advantage of emerging opportunities. GENIUS NY participants are required to operate their business in Central New York for at least one year. The program is funded through the CNY Rising Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI), the region’s award-winning strategic plan to generate robust economic growth and community development.

University of Buffalo Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics Awards 8 Manufacturing Project Awards for the Development of New Technologies

University of Buffalo CMI is one of 14 Centers of Excellence statewide funded by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). The centers foster collaboration between the academic research community and industry to develop and commercialize new products and technologies and enhance workforce training.

Recent Filings

Verivend raises $125K through Launch NY Investor Network

Verivend set a $1 million goal for its seed extension round. It accomplished that goal with the help of Launch NY’s Investor Network, a syndicate of more than 300 investors who gainaccess to pre-vetted startup deals in Upstate New York with a no-cost and no-obligation setup.

Upcoming Programs

The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub Accelerator Now Accepting Applications

The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub 2024 Call for Innovators is now open. The application deadline is March 25, 2024. The goal of the OWIH Accelerator is to support the growing offshore wind industry in New York, by bringing the most promising and impactful innovations to scale. To achieve this the program provides the selected cohort companies with bespoke support from all program partners to further technology development and commercialization goals. 

The life sciences industry is poised to create opportunities for underserved and minority populations in Boston/Cambridge, New York City, San Diego and Philadelphia. Project OnRamp helps to bridge the opportunity gap for many promising students. While companies offer valuable internship opportunities, it can be difficult for students from these populations to gain access to internships, which are often a path to full-time employment. Project Onramp works with companies to enable these students to get that first internship experience!

 Westchester County's Element 46 Tech Accelerator Now Accepting Applications

Westchester County’s Element 46 Tech Accelerator Powered by Cela is currently accepting applications for its spring cohort, which will begin in late March. Each startup selected will experience a world-class accelerator program that features key curriculum, connections to entrepreneurs, investors and mentors and full-time support from the Element 46 staff. The program will culminate with a Demo Day on June 12, 2024, where each participant will have the opportunity to pitch their venture to a room full of investors, technology experts, press representatives, government officials and other key contacts.

Applications for Spring 2024 are reviewed on a rolling basis and interested parties must apply by March 4, 2024, to be considered for the Spring 2024 cohort.

The International Business Innovation Association

Annual Conference for Entrepreneurial

Ecosystem Builders

April 14-17, 2024

The International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) will hold its 38th International Conference on Business Incubation (ICBI38) in San Antonio, Texas, April 14-17, 2024. This event brings together entrepreneur support professionals from across the U.S. and around the world to engage through inspirational keynote addresses, peer-led sessions on a broad range of topics, the exchange of ideas and solutions with other attendees, and more.

Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Announces Most Fundable Companies Compeition

The Most Fundable Companies program is not limited to Pepperdine student and alumni startups, and is not a pitch competition. Get objective feedback on how your business will be viewed by potential investors beyond your introductory pitch. The School aims to help you think about how to structure your business and position your service or product so that you are seen as a worthy investment. In 2023, over 3,000 startups across all 50 US states were screened into the nation’s top startups selected for the annual Pepperdine Most Fundable Companies list.

The Rev Summer Prototyping Hardware Accelerator is open to anyone with an idea for a physical product and a passion for entrepreneurship. The program is free and open to the public, and teams do not need to have a legally-formed LLC to participate. The classic track supports product ideas across all industries, and the AgTech and CleanTech tracks offer startups the chance to work with a like-minded cohort and learn from industry experts. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis during the annual application cycle. Note: Digital platforms, applications, and other software programs are not eligible unless paired with a physical product that you intend to develop in our program.

This is an in-person program located in Ithaca, New York.

Applications for Summer 2024 are now open.

Early admission deadline is February 16 and the final deadline is March 25.

New Energy New York (NENY), a federally designated Battery Tech Hub, is excited to launch ChargeUp, a new accelerator program dedicated to startups developing innovations for the battery and energy storage industry.  

The hybrid ChargeUp program, providing an expert-driven, industry-specific curriculum to advance startup investor readiness, runs for six months (April–September 2024). ChargeUp participants will receive $25,000 to use throughout the program, as well as follow-on investment opportunities, including up to $100,000 for technical development. 

CNY Concept to Commercialization Series:

Fundamentals of Working with the Media

March 19, 2024 | 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Virgie Townsend, JD, Director of Public Relations

Strategic Communications

This interactive presentation will cover the fundamentals of working with the news media, including how to prepare for phone, virtual, and in-person interviews with TV, print/online, and radio/podcast reporters.

Now Available: Energy I-Corps Spring Selections and 2023 Annual Report

DOE announced 25 selected projects for the spring round of the 2024 Energy I-Corps program. Energy I-Corps is one of OTT’s key initiatives that empowers National Lab researchers to collaborate with industry and turn research and development into demonstration and deployment. In 2023, Energy I-Corps ushered 24 teams from eight National Labs through the traditional immersive two-month curriculum, now known as Topic 2: Training Cohorts. We also expanded the program in 2023 by introducing pre- and post-Training Cohort offerings called Topic 1: Pipeline Development and Topic 3: Post Energy I-Corps, respectively.  



Since 2015, our program has seen:  

• $177M+ in funding  
• 20+ new businesses launched  
• 78 licenses executed  
• 450+ participants. 
• 
  

Learn more about the program and selected projects by visiting the Energy I-Corps webpage. Read the 2023 Energy I-Corps Annual Report here.

Venture For ClimateTech is actively seeking the next cohort of climate tech innovators! As a non-profit venture studio and accelerator program, we’re looking for individuals from around the globe who are committed to identifying and accelerating groundbreaking solutions. Entrepreneurs selected for Cohort 4 will receive up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding, access to educational programming, and invaluable mentorship—all designed to expedite the journey of their climate tech innovation to market.

Applications are open now through March 1, 2024.

NYC OTI Launches Smart City Test Bed

The newly launched NYC Smart City Testbed Program creates a streamlined path to pilot emerging technologies with stakeholder city agencies. Accepted applicants will pilot their technology within New York City’s built environments with assistance from the Testbed team throughout the entire process

BIANYS Job Board and Talent Network

Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships at Binghamton University is seeking applicants for the following roles:

1. Assistant Director
2. Senior Program Manager
3. Program Manager
4. Digital Content Creator
5. Web Design and Developer

If your Incubator and/or Member Companies would like employment opportunities posted to the BIANYS Talent Network please submit requests here.

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